Game Report

After nearly a week off between games in Providence and Allentown, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms finally took to home ice on Friday night to see if they could regain the lead in this first round series against the Bruins.

With a raucous crowd at their backs, the Phantoms dominated the opening period. Philippe Myers got the scoring started just over six minutes into the game with a smooth wrister from the slot off a slick pass back from Danick Martel.

Oskar Lindblom, who rejoined the Phantoms this week along with Travis Sanheim after the Philadelphia Flyers were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, was the next to light the lamp when the puck deflected off his skate on a rebound from Cole Bardreau. The play was reviewed but deemed to be a good goal. The Phantoms headed to the first intermission up 2-0 over Providence, and outshooting them 19-6.

They took their foot off the gas a little bit in the middle frame, but only after Lindblom potted his second goal of the night to give the home team a 3-0 lead. That’s when the physicality and tensions from the previous two games started to crop up, causing scrums after almost every whistle and beginning a parade to the penalty box.

Late in the second period, Providence finally found their way through Dustin Tokarski on one of those aforementioned penalties. That boosted the Bruins bench and momentum began to shift in their direction.

The third period was all Providence, as they peppered Tokarski and pinned the Phantoms in the defensive zone. Despite pulling goaltender Jordan Binnington late in the game, Mike Vecchione sealed the win for the Phantoms with his second goal of the series.

With a 2-1 series lead, the Phantoms and Bruins will meet again on Saturday night at PPL Center where Lehigh Valley will look to advance to the second round, while Providence hopes to force a game five.

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